Surgeon General's Report on Obesity Calls for Limiting Advertising

Regina Benjamin, the new U.S. Surgeon General, has released a report entitled "The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation." The paper was released at a press conference attended by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and First Lady Michelle Obama. The report makes a number of recommendations to communities, parents, the medical community, schools and employers on how to reduce obesity levels. However, one of the recommendations under "Improving our Communities" is to limit advertisements of "less-healthy foods and beverages."

Additionally, in a recent speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the First Lady indicated that she believes that obesity could now be an even greater health risk than smoking.

If you have any questions about this issue, please contact Dan Jaffe in ANA's Washington office at 202-296-2359 or at djaffe@ana.net.

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